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HSE updated guidance on health surveillance

SOM Council welcomed this new guidance and noted that “It continues to balance the need to protect the health, safety and welfare of workers and current constraints presented by the coronavirus pandemic. Face to face assessments can be undertaken, where appropriate, subject to a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and putting in place appropriate controls, taking into account public health advice on coronavirus. The general principles it sets out apply to both new workers and those undergoing periodic medicals.”

Regarding spirometry, SOM Council noted that this should not be routine but could be carried out by OH specialists with required PPE if it was critical and there was greater risk of not doing it than doing.